Most of us speak carelessly without thought.  If we thought before we spoke we would not get into trouble because of making promises or agreeing with someone whose ideas were diametrically opposed to our own.  After all, we have to get along with everyone or else we would always be pouting, angry or abusive or – even fighting to the death. I haven’t heard the positive statement “I gave you my word” in a long time.  It is implicit in most agreements but also in most agreements there is a hesitancy to be explicit and exact.  Before saying “I give you my word” you have to put it in writing and get what you are promised in writing also.

It is a funny thing about contracts when you make the agreement and then give your word that you will carry out all the main parts and sub clauses and really mean what you have said and agreed to. If you sign that contract and it is witnessed it usually has the force of law.  Most of us realize that there is no law that cannot be broken and agreements do fall apart and are unenforceable.  In certain cases, however, the agreements have a death clause.  These are articles of war you agree to when you join up with a military unit and become part (a very small part) of the protection of a government. You shut your mouth and jump when told to.

I am of the persuasion that you have the right of dissent. I believe that each of us who call ourselves Americans have the right to say no when we mean no. I also think it is our right under our Constitution not to have to do things which go against our conscience, religion, belief or under conditions where the contract you signed had been broken by the other party or where you are put in harms’ way.

In our country we are divided by parties and the outcome of an election.  We have held to the Constitution and support the country even if is engaged in a war neither you nor I signed on to. I see that our military leaders are trying to win this war without providing proper protections that any sane soldier would expect when ordered into harms’ way by our civilian chiefs who do not have to do what they order soldiers to do.  This is wrong and soldiers who question orders are right.

When I was a teacher (who is in some sense a government official) I was ordered to do things I considered improper, stupid and unlawful.  A much older and wiser teacher knowing how the system worked told me this.  “Do what you are told, but afterwards make your complaint heard”.  They can punish you for disobeying but not for opening your mouth and explaining why the directions you were given were improper. It probably would do no good at either end – protesting doing before or complaining after. But that is your right to try to make things right. We would hope that a Commander-in-Chief would think twice before ordering war, men and women in harms’ way and remember his days in service.